Odd flights cross Pakistan amid airspace closure

Amid an escalating conflict between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has closed the country’s airspace, including all commercial flights, since February 27, 2019. On a second day of closure the airspace remains shut at large, however, some solitary flights have been spotted using the country’s airspace.

Flightradar24.com started reporting two hours ago first flights leaving the country. So far, Emirates, Air Arabia, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai and several Saudia’s flights have taken off at Pakistan’s airports. Meanwhile, Aeroflot flight from Mali has also appeared to be crossing Pakistan’s airspace en route to Moscow.

On February 28, all flights to and from Islamabad International Airport (ISB) remain cancelled, with the exception of a couple of domestic flights by Pakistan’s airlines PIA, Serene Air and Air Blue.

Most flights at Karachi Jinnah international airport (KHI) and Lahore Allama Iqbal international airport (LHE) are also cancelled, except domestic flights operated by  Serene Air and Air Blue.

Contrary to the airports above, Peshawar Bacha Khan international airport (PEW), lists all arrivals and departures, including international flights and those by foreign airlines, as still scheduled, with the exception of one Serene Air departing flight to Karachi and a departing flight to Bahrain by a Egyptian private airline.

UPDATE 28-02-2019, 16:09 (UTC+2):

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has announced that the country’s airspace is to remain closed until 08:00 EST on March 1, 2019 and will reopen afterwards.

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